Also: microbial cellulose, nanocellulose from bacteria, kombucha leather
Some bacteria (e.g. Komagataeibacter) spin pure cellulose nanofibres into floating mats as they ferment sugar. The mats are very pure, strong when wet and easy to shape, so researchers use them for textiles, membranes, food and electronics. Entries summarise reported research; biomedical entries are descriptive only.
Readiness: lab lab studies · prototype demonstrated objects · commercial products or buildings in real use · review summaries of other studies.
Described bacterial cellulose tubes (sold under the name BASYC) and reported their testing as small artificial blood vessels in rat experiments (descriptive only).
Built / tested: bacterial cellulose tubes
As reported in: Klemm, Schumann, Udhardt et al. (2001). Bacterial synthesized cellulose — artificial blood vessels for microsurgery. Progress in Polymer Science. doi:10.1016/s0079-6700(01)00021-1
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Combined bacterial cellulose with a conductive polymer to make a flexible conducting membrane.
Built / tested: conductive membranes
As reported in: Hu, Chen, Yang et al. (2011). Flexible Electrically Conductive Nanocomposite Membrane Based on Bacterial Cellulose and Polyaniline. The Journal of Physical Chemistry B. doi:10.1021/jp204422v
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A review of bacterial-cellulose composites used in wearable electronics.
As reported in: Guan, Guo (2022). Flexible, high-strength, and porous nano-nano composites based on bacterial cellulose for wearable electronics: a review. Soft Science. doi:10.20517/ss.2021.19
Reviews uses of bacterial cellulose in foods (it is the basis of the traditional dessert nata de coco).
As reported in: Shi, Zhang, Phillips et al. (2014). Utilization of bacterial cellulose in food. Food Hydrocolloids. doi:10.1016/j.foodhyd.2013.07.012
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An early overview of how bacteria produce cellulose and why its structure is unusual.
As reported in: Iguchi, Yamanaka, Budhiono (2000). Bacterial cellulose—a masterpiece of nature's arts. Journal of Materials Science. doi:10.1023/a:1004775229149
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A review of bacterial cellulose as a biodegradable food packaging material.
As reported in: Cazón, Vázquez (2021). Bacterial cellulose as a biodegradable food packaging material: A review. Food Hydrocolloids. doi:10.1016/j.foodhyd.2020.106530
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Broke down waste cotton textiles into sugars and used them to feed bacteria that make new cellulose.
Built / tested: cellulose mats from textile waste
As reported in: Hong, Guo, Zhang et al. (2012). Bacterial cellulose production from cotton-based waste textiles: Enzymatic saccharification enhanced by ionic liquid pretreatment. Bioresource Technology. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2011.11.028
Abstract only
Soaked bacterial cellulose membranes in two commercial water-repellent textile finishes (a silicone and a fluorocarbon) to make sheets that resist water but still let vapour through, aimed at textile and shoe uses.
Built / tested: water-repellent cellulose membrane samples
As reported in: Fernandes, Gama, Dourado et al. (2019). Development of novel bacterial cellulose composites for the textile and shoe industry. Microbial Biotechnology. doi:10.1111/1751-7915.13387
Grew bacterial cellulose from a kombucha culture and processed it as a stable hydrogel to tune its properties for use as a textile material.
Built / tested: textile samples
As reported in: Kamiński, Jarosz, Grudzień et al. (2020). Hydrogel bacterial cellulose: a path to improved materials for new eco-friendly textiles. Cellulose. doi:10.1007/s10570-020-03128-3